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After Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms to have ever formed in the Atlantic, devastated the American islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John as well as parts of Florida, Donald Trump flew to Fort Myers to see the staggering damage first hand. Once he landed he gave remarks praising the hard work of the US and State government agencies, which in actuality he despises and ignores their warnings, said this about Rick Scott:
"I hope this man right here Rick Scott runs for the Senate. I don't know what he is going to do. I know that a certain point it ends to you and we can't let it end, so I hope he runs for Senate." CNN politics reported at the time: Remember that Trump is on an official presidential trip. Politicians usually stay away from playing politics in these moments. That goes double -- or more like quadruple -- when you are visiting a place where a natural disaster has struck less than a week ago. Know the old phrase "There's a time and a place for everything"? Well, Trump doesn't. The AP, in a recent news story noted that “more than a million Puerto Ricans — about 5 percent of Florida’s population — already call the state home, and given the outrage many feel over President Donald Trump’s handling of the storm, political observers say this voting bloc could loosen the Republican Party’s hold on this battleground state.” The AP story focuses on Javier Gonzalez, who along with 140,000 others moved to the US Mainland. He settled in Miami, and Florida was the destination for 130,000 others that have arrived so far. Below is part of his story.Gonzalez, 38, saw the storm destroy the restaurant he opened with his father five years ago. Without power or reliable water, he became violently ill from food poisoning for three weeks. Finally, he packed his bags, determined to make his future in Miami instead.
“There is resentment, and we feel abandoned compared to Texas and Florida,” Gonzalez said. “We were desperate for help.”
Like any Puerto Rican, Gonzalez can vote in all elections now that he’s moved to the mainland. He doesn’t plan to register for any party, but he follows the news and understands their platforms. He’s aware of Trump’s tweets.
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Puerto Ricans are not the gift to the Republican Party that the anti-Castro Cuban diaspora has been historically. They’ve tended to favor Democrats, given their support for public education and social services. Around 70 percent of Florida’s non-Cuban Latinos voted for Hillary Clinton.
Both parties are courting the new arrivals to Florida, which Trump won last year by just 112,000 votes out of 9.6 million cast.
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Newcomers must register by next July 30 to vote in 2018 for a new governor to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Scott and choose Florida’s congressional delegation, now 11 Democrats and 16 Republicans. Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson also defends his seat next year, and Scott, who has been applauded for helping evacuees, is expected to challenge him in what could be a close race.
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Maria’s evacuees are following waves of people frustrated by Puerto Rico’s unemployment and debt crisis who settled in Central Florida, shifting from New York, the favored destination of previous generations. Of the more than 140,000 islanders estimated to have left since the storm, more than 130,000 went to Florida, where Puerto Ricans may soon displace Cubans as the largest Latino group.
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“It is a strong indication that voters are paying attention, and they are angry,” said Cristobal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Project. “We wouldn’t have the devastation and abandonment of Puerto Rico without Donald Trump. People will look at that.”
On the island, Puerto Rico’s lack of statehood means they can’t vote in general presidential elections, and can only send a non-voting representative to Congress. On the mainland, they’ll have more power.
“I know for a fact that we are well educated and we are going to come here to work,” Gonzalez said. “And yes, we are going to make a voice. We are going to make a bigger voice than before.”
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